The desire to flee violence and persecution, as well as the hope to find greener pastures in the developed world, often leads to desperate steps.

People often end up putting their lives at risk as they cross continents, illegally, to get to the ‘promised land’. These perilous journeys are facilitated by unscrupulous human traffickers who exploit the migrants and can abandon them in the event of a crisis.

The latest example of their cruelty came to light recently when it was reported that up to 500 migrants may have perished in the Mediterranean off the coast of Malta.

Based on the testimony of two Palestinian survivors, the International Organisation for Migration says the likely high death toll was caused when traffickers reportedly rammed a vessel into the boat carrying the migrants.

Also Read: 500 feared dead as human traffickers’ vessel rams boat

Hailing from Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Sudan, the asylum seekers had set sail from the Egyptian port of Damietta earlier this month, trying to find a way to Europe.

The unfortunate individuals were ordered to board a smaller boat by the smugglers en route; and when they refused the traffickers deliberately knocked the migrants’ vessel over.

Meanwhile, another boat, reportedly containing over 250 migrants, capsized off the Libyan coast on Monday.

Pakistan has witnessed similar tragedies. For example, over 40 migrants — mostly Afghans — were found dead inside a shipping container en route to Iran when it was opened by police in Quetta in 2009. Human trafficking is a major problem in Pakistan, both as a source country and a transit point.

Traffickers are especially active in parts of Punjab, while both land and sea routes are used to illegally transport people to Europe, the Gulf and other destinations.

The problem needs to be addressed on two fronts: firstly, firm action is needed against those running human smuggling rackets.

Global cooperation must be strengthened to bust trafficking gangs, as these groups have transnational linkages, in order to prevent tragedies similar to the one witnessed on the Mediterranean.

But beyond that, in the longer term, governments must ask themselves what is forcing people to adopt such drastic measures.

Fleeing wars is understandable, but in Pakistan the lack of social and economic justice, as well as persecution on religious and ethnic grounds, propels many people towards taking this dangerous plunge.

Hence there is logic in the call by activists for states to look into the ‘root causes’ of why people flee their countries of origin.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2014